STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3564

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 909, 910

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 909 and 910, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Hawaiian Homes Commission

 

G.M. No. 909

LEIMANA DAMATE,

for a term to expire 6-30-2013; and

 

G.M. No. 910

GENE ROSS DAVIS,

for a term to expire 6-30-2016,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Leimana Damate and Gene Ross Davis to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Hawaiian Homes Commission.

 

LEIMANA DAMATE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Leimana Damate from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Oahu Council, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Aupuni o Hawaii; Kapolei Community Development Corporation; Waimanalo Hawaiian Homes Association; and seven individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Damate has served on the Hawaiian Homes Commission for the past year and provides insights and knowledge of cultural resources to help shape the commission's decisions.  Ms. Damate leads the commission's effort to ensure that Hawaiian homelands water resources are used wisely, contributes to the commission's effort to re-energize agriculture in Waimea with the Veteran-Farmer program, and assists her fellow members of the commission's ad hoc committee on alternative energy. 

 

GENE ROSS DAVIS

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Gene Ross Davis from L&R Farm, LLC; Molokai Farmers Alliance; Aupuni o Hawaii; and forty-one individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Ross is a third generation beneficiary of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act 1920, as amended, and has been a homesteader for most of his life.  Mr. Ross has worked for the State of Hawaii's Department of Agriculture for the past twelve years and has built relationships of trust with farmers and ranchers throughout his community.  Frequent visits with and encouragement and education from these members of the farming and ranching community give Mr. Ross a well-rounded perspective on land and water issues.  Through his work on the Hawaiian Homes Commission, Mr. Ross will continue to serve his community and remain well-connected to his roots on homestead land.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

BRICKWOOD GALUTERIA, Chair